Love, Learn & Live with Bipolar Disorder

As BlogHer16 approaches, my anxiety increases. I know the conference will overstimulate me. To not be overwhelmed, I must revisit a topic I touched on briefly when I starred blogging in September 2016 – my need to titrate stimulation, carefully balancing just the right amount of social interaction with breaks for solitude and relaxation.

Find I must titrate exposure to stimulation. Need enough to prevent depression, but not so much as to trigger hypomania. Enough, but not too much sun. Have to be very careful with social stimulation. Easily get on edge when spend too much time with too many people. And, not able to limit myself, to set boundaries, to keep myself on an even keel. Fear losing myself, jumping in too deep too soon, taking on more than I can handle. All a very careful balancing act.

22 thoughts on “Titrating Stimulation”

PaladinJuly 24, 2016 / 6:54 am

The BlogHer16 four day agenda is an overkill of stimulation and it starts on 4 August. Did a brief survey from a Google search on “titrate stimulation” with overwhelming math algorithms, flowcharts, and how different parts of the brain will perform. Very impessive models.

Like to read a lot on brain research. Boston Scientific Neuromodulation section can implant brain devices to help those suffering from Parkinson’s disease. Several years ago DARPA was doing research with producing implanted devices to correct neurotransmitters for those suffering from other sever mental disorders, such as PTSD.

1) Think there may be some external pendants with one electrode to provide feedback like performing an EEG test on the brain with less electrodes. You may want to check the market for something with telemetry info providing you a signal to know when you need to alter the situation in order to keep your brain functioning in a normal zone. Maybe it is as simple of providing whether your brain wave frequency is in a theta or other desirable frequency range rather than something much higher.

2) Avoid procrastinators for they always overstimulate the brain.

Think you will enjoy this “love of your life” social media gathering, Kitt.

Thank you. Doubt I’ll be purchasing a gizmo to show me my brain telemetry anytime soon. But, it is fascinating. There is a local Aliso Viejo company MYnd Analytics is in the neurometrics business. Would make a fascinating post…

It’s so SO so good you’re aware of the need to titrate stimulation, Kitt!
As you know, I wish I knew about it before last year’s Catamaran Writing Conference. I still cringe thinking of some things (nothing too bad, but still cringe-worthy) I said & did due to my hypomania that caused by “conference overstimulation”! :0000

What did help me a great deal was having my own room (a lucky upgrade); some attendees did not have such a luxury, and my two emergency doses of Seroquel were a huge help- but the amount wasn’t enough. I’ll never travel without a full bottle again.

Quite a challenge but you appear to be in control, which is more than I can say for some with a similar condition. For with the arrival of summer, they cast in haste their medication to the wind! – which is as you may well know brings chaos to their existence.